International support for obesity research

The Alberta-Saxony Obesity Research and Training Alliance ASORTA strengthes obesity research in Leipzig.

Research in the field of obesity and metabolic disorder at the University of Leipzig has been strengthened through a international cooperation.

The saxony secretary of state Hansjörg König traveled to Edmonton on 4th of October to seal a new kooperation between Alberta (Canada) and Saxony. The so-called ASORTA (Alberta-Saxony Obesity Research and Training Alliance) will prospectively enhance the exchange of young researchers and students, who are working in the field of obesity and metabolic disorder. In Alberta as well as in Saxony research in this areas has a long tradition.

The University of Alberta and the University of Leipzig will start with a joined summer and winter school in Edmonton presumably in February 2011. Scientific cooperation already exists between both Universities. Prof. Dr. Arya Sharma, Head of the University Obesity Center in Edmonton, has been elected as a member of the external advisory board of the Integreated Research and Treatment Center (IFB) AdiposityDiseases in Leipzig.

It is planed to offer young researchers from Edmonton the oportunity to collaborate in research projects of the IFB AdiposityDiseases by awarding them scholarships.Prof. Stumvoll, the scientific director of the IFB AdiposityDiseases, joined by Prof. Dr. Thiery, Dean of the Medical Faculty of the University of Leipzig and Prof. Blüher, member of the board of directors of the IFB AdiposityDiseases, will travel to Edmonton this very year, to organise topics and content of the winter school.

Saxony and Alberta have been working together in business ans science for a long time. Already in February 2002 the former Prime Minister of Saxony Kurt Biedenkopf and the former Prime Minister of Alberta, Ralph Klein signed a joint declaration in Berlin. It was the first declaration of that kind in East-Germany.

Keywords: health policy, IFB-research

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